Baby supporter



July 23, 1946. M. KNECHT v 2,404,505

BABY SUPPORTER Filed June 13, 1944 I INVENTOR. MARGARET P KNECHT ATTORNEY Patented July 23, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE 2,404,505 BABY SUPPORTER Margaret P. Knecht, Muncie, Ind. Application June 13, 1944, Serial No. 540,109

This invention relates to baby supporters. There has long been a desire by the mother, for a utility by which the baby, in the tender pc- 1 Claim. (01. 1551) riod of its growth and development and when nurtured in the crib or carriage, may be suitably supported therein in a raised position. In her effort to so support the baby, the procedure hitherto practiced, consisting, as it does, of disposing the baby in raised position and at rest against a pillow or the like, has been unsatisfactory, for the reason that the baby, constantly in action, and being without faculty of maintaining itself in such position, will soon have worked itself from the raised position in which it will have been placed, to a downwardly, forwardly and prone position.

Incident to the baby's having become so displaced, is an annoying and troublesome inconvenience to the mother, and also to the child; and there is the necessity of frequently and repeatedly re-positioning of th baby, and the rearranging of the pillow, garments and coverings.

'To provide a utility (by utility being meant a device or equipment) whereby the above named disadvantages may be overcome, and whereby the baby may, with ease and facility, be effectively arranged and kept comfortably in raised position, is the object, broadly stated, of my invention.

The said general object, and also certain specific aims which will presently appear, are accomplished by, and my invention is embodied in the new construction, combination and arrangement of parts shown in the annexed drawing and described in the following specification.

Keeping in mind that in the early period of the babys development, the baby is physically unable to support itself in raised position; and that means which are provided for supporting it should so function that the baby may be maintained comfortably, and safe from strain or injury, my invention has proceeded upon the concept of providing, an upstanding pad, suitable in height, broadened of base and having rearwardly inclined front, a flexible band extended forwardly from the lower portion of said pad and adapted to reside within the babys crotch, a flexible body piece connected to the forward end of said band and adapted to be reposed against the baby's abdomen, and opposed similar tapes integrated with the said body piece and which are adapted to be drawn about the said pad and then tied together at the back thereof, whereby the baby may be lashed, in the raised position, to said pad.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my new applisuitably retained in the crib or carriage.

ance as it appears in readiness to be applied to use.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of Figure 1, the positions of the flexible parts when in their transposed positions, being indicated by the broken lines.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the invention installed and the baby being lashed to the pad.

A pad of preferred form consists of a pad or cushion fashed to formation substantially as indicated in the drawing, having a covering of smooth soft material such as muslin, and being stuffed with cotton batting or the like. Its height may be about ten inches, and the width at its base about twelve inches. The pad so formed is adapted to be conveniently disposed, and it is The frontal portion 6, slightly concave in cross section contour, is inclined rearwardly at a suitable angle, so that the baby may be readily disposed centrally of the front of the pad and at suitable poise.

A member which I designate as a crotch band 8 consists of a stout flexible fabric such as webbing. It is secured at its rear edge, as by snap eyelets 9, to the lower edge of the frontal portion of said pad. At its forward end are spaced buckles Ill.

A transverse body piece [2 made of flexible material such as webbing, is provided with short straps l4 projecting from a, side thereof and which are adapted to be connected to the buckles of the said crotch band. Extending from each side of the upper end of said body piece, is a tape l6 of predetermined length and suitable width, and whose end portions I! are of narrowed formation.

My new appliance appears, in readiness for use, as indicated in Figure 1. In the practice of my invention, the pad is disposed in the position desired. For example, in the babys crib, as indicated in Figure 3, the crotch band and tape lying on the bed coverings of the crib, and in the order indicated in Figure 2. The baby is placed in position leaning against the frontal surface of the pad.

Then, with the lifting of the tapes, the crotch band is brought up between the babys legs, and

the body piece I2 against the babys abdomen.

The crotch band, body piece, tapes and cushion so function, that whereas the'baby is retained against lateral displacement as well as against 7 lowering displacement, it is settled comfortably,

durable and dependable, and is economical of manufacture. Modifications may be made in the details of my invention without departing from its principle, and the invention is to be construed as of the scope defined in the claim.

What I claim as my invention is:

An appliance of the kind described consisting of an upright cushion pad of suitable height and broadened of base, and having rearwardly inclined and transversely concave frontal surface, a flexible crotch band connected at one of its ends tothe lower edge of the frontal portion of said pad, 'a flat flexiblebody' piece detachably secured to the other end of said crotch band, and complemental elongated tapes integrated with the upper end of the said body piece, substantially MARGARET P. KNECHT. 

